The victim, in her 30s, was knifed to death on Tuesday - three months after James Attfield was found brutally killed in the same town

Clues: Police search the scene in Colchester - three months after the similar killing of James Attfield

The brutal murders of a young woman in Muslim dress and a man with brain damage could be linked, police have said.

A woman, who was in her early 30s, was attacked in broad daylight as she walked along a path close to her home on a housing estate in Colchester, Essex, on Tuesday morning.

Paramedics tried to save her but she died at the scene from head and body injuries.

Essex Police confirmed today she was wearing a dark navy blue full length robe called an Abaya, and a patterned multi-coloured Hijab headscarf.

Detective Superintendent Tracy Hawkings said officers were keeping an open mind about the motive of the attack.

Officers are looking at possible links with the murder of James Attfield, a vulnerable man with brain damage who died after being stabbed more than 100 times at a park in the town in March.

"There are some immediate similarities between this murder and that of James Attfield but there are also a large number of differences as well,"she said.

"There is no current known motive for this attack and we are keeping an open mind and exploring all possible avenues of investigation."

But she added: "We are conscious that the dress of the victim will have identified her as likely being a Muslim and this is one of the main lines of the investigation but again there is no firm evidence at this time that she was targeted because of her religion."

Detectives want to hear from anyone who used the trail between 8.30am and 11am on Tuesday.

Links: Police say the killing shares "similarities" with the murder of James Attfield

They have also asked residents to check their gardens and rubbish bins for any discarded weapons or blood stained clothing.

The victim is believed to have left her home in nearby Woodrow Way before joining the path shortly before her death.

DS Hawkings said: "We have not yet been able to formally identify the victim but we believe we know who she is and specially trained family liaison officers are speaking with her family now.

"A forensic post-mortem is due to be carried out this afternoon to establish the cause of death but at this time it would appear that a knife or other bladed weapon was used in this attack.

"The victim also suffered facial injuries but the cause of these has yet to be established.

"We have no further detail on the murder weapon or weapons at this time but if anyone comes across any suspicious items which they think could be connected to this murder we would ask them to call us."

Officers will be carrying out additional patrols in the area.

A 52-year-old man from the Colchester area was arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the incident.